Opinion: Hightstown, East Windsor, Roosevelt thrive with community diversity

Martin Griff / The Times of Trenton The Hightstown Municipal Building on April 21.

By Stephen Bryant and Lenore Isleib

Our community of three towns, Hightstown, East Windsor and Roosevelt, has received a significant portion of the region’s new immigration population. We have proudly built an inclusive community while maintaining high standards for education, business, housing and neighborliness. Diversity has not excluded stability. Change has not undermined quality of life.

The Hightstown GOP candidates’ survey (see letter, “ ‘Sanctuary’ law was ill-advised,” June 19) regarding Hightstown was ineffectual. It was neither an objective nor an informative approach to the discussion of immigrant policy.

“Sanctuary city,” a term the letter’s authors used, suggests a policy of not inquiring about immigration status during day-to-day police work. The term has no legal standing. Hightstown has never requested sanctuary designation. Some cities called “sanctuaries“ have adopted a policy to never inquire into the legality of immigration status. Hightstown has not.

A review of what is actually said in the Hightstown Borough 2005-66 resolution illustrates that we are a unique community focused on remaining open and stable. The resolution was a simple statement about the importance of strong community-police relations and an acknowledgement that, in order to uphold the law, there must be a strong level of trust between the local police and all residents — including immigrants. The resolution asked federal immigration officials to identify themselves as ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) agents so they would not be mistaken for police officers. It encouraged the agents to act with sensitivity toward all members of the community. It did not indicate that Hightstown would be a “sanctuary city” that did not enforce the law. Indeed, the term “sanctuary city” was never used. Sensibly, it advocated for rational federal reforms that will help communities like ours, where immigration is a real, practical issue.

The survey recently put together by John Archer and Skye Gilmartin, Republican candidates for Hightstown Borough Council, erroneously suggested the borough’s resolution was illegal. Hightstown Borough Police follow the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition against unreasonable searches of homes or persons. This means police do not inquire about immigration status solely on suspicion or profile. If, however, someone is arrested for a crime, his or her identity and immigration status are determined. All legal procedures are then followed, as required by both state directives and federal law. The resolution is completely consistent with Law Enforcement Directive 2007-3 issued by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, federal law and the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Archer and Mr. Gilmartin’s survey additionally communicated a sense that the resolution, immigration and sanctuary designation imposed some instability on the safety, property values and economics of the community. Data show otherwise. From 1990 to 2007, the percentage of foreign-born residents in HEWR rose from 10 percent to 25 percent and:
• Housing sale prices rose and fell on par with the rest of Mercer County;
• The crime rate has been decreasing for the last six years; and
• In 2010, in the East Windsor school district, white, black, Asian and Hispanic students tested as well as or better than the state average in mathematics and language arts literacy.

Data indicate the community is improving, but correlation is not causality: We do not necessarily attribute community improvement to increased percentages of foreign-born residents. This same caution would apply if data indicated instability.

Likewise, it could not be stated that increased diversity in a community results in decline in the quality of community life.

Community Unity HEWR , a diverse group of local residents, is dedicated to fostering positive integration of all people, all races and all ethnicities. We want an inclusive community that insists on high quality in our schools, housing and civic standards. Under no circumstance do we endorse any candidate. We do, however, watch closely for issues that compromise the ability of our community to remain stably integrated.

As electoral politics focuses on immigration issues, it is our sincere hope that it recognizes the fragility of the community, where actions and words can easily lead to tension and mistrust. This can hurt us all.

We urge caution, sensibility and careful thought about what will maintain the integration of the community. We look forward to working with elected and volunteer leaders in embracing diversity’s rewards and dealing with its challenges.

Stephen Bryant, chairman, and Lenore Isleib, co-chairwoman, submitted this guest opinion editorial on behalf of the members of Community Unity-Hightstown, East Windsor, Roosevelt.